TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 


TRISTAN  AND   ISEULT 

A  PLAY  IN  FOUR  ACTS 

BY 

ARTHUR  SYMONS 


NEW  YORK 

BRENT  ANO'S 

1917 


Copyright,  1917 
BY    BRENTANO'S 


THE  UNIVERSITY    PRESS,  CAMBRIDGE,  U.  S.  A. 


TO 
ELEONORA  DUSE. 


Mm  $enft'te  il  sangue  delle  rose  stillare 
Tra  le  mie  dita  nelle  vostre  due  mani? 

TBISTANO  E  ISOTTA,  Alto  7/7. 


3G1201 


THE  PERSONS. 

KING    MARK    OF    CORNWALL. 
THE    KING    OF    IRELAND. 

TRISTAN:  Nephew  of  King  Mark  of  Cornwall. 
MERIADOC:  Nephew  of  the  Queen  of  Ireland. 
MELOT:  A  Fool  at  the  court  of  King  Mark. 

A    PHYSICIAN. 

THE    QUEEN    OF    IRELAND. 

ISEULT  OF  IRELAND:  Daughter  of  the  Queen. 
ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY:  Cousin  of  Iseult  of  Ireland. 
BRANGAENE:  A  lady  in  attendance  on  Iseult  of  Ire- 
land. 

YGRAINE 


ELAINE 


Ladies  in  attendance  on  Iseult  of  Brittany. 


IMOGEN 

A  CHILD. 

LORDS  AND  ATTENDANTS. 

The  action  takes  place  in  Ireland,  Cornwall,  Brittany, 
and  on  the  sea. 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT. 


ACT  I. 

The  scene  represents  a  large  room  in  the  palace  of  the 
KING  OF  IRELAND.  There  are  vacant  seats  in  the  fore- 
ground on  the  right.  In  the  background  are  two  long 
broad  steps  leading  to  an  inner  room,  which  is  seen  as 
through  the  proscenium  of  a  theatre.  Women  are 
seated  just  inside,  working  at  embroidery  frames.  In 
the  front  is  ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  working;  behind 
her  BRANGAENE.  ISEULT  OF  IRELAND  is  standing 
beside  her,  looking  at  the  work.  As  the  curtain  goes  up, 
a  large  door  on  the  left  is  opened  and  the  QUEEN  enters. 
MERIADOC  following  her  as  if  in  eager  conversation. 
They  cross  to  the  seats  and  sit  down.  ISEULT  OF 
IRELAND  comes  down  the  steps  and  across  the  stage, 
with  an  eager  movement. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

MOTHER,  I  knew  that  Tristan  would  come  back. 

QUEEN. 

Why  not?    These  wandering  children  of  the  harp 
Follow  the  crying  people  of  the  air; 
They  know  their  seasons,  they  return  with  them. 
Tristan  will  bring  his  harp  into  the  hall 


TRISTANAND  ISEULT 

When  he  has  rested.    And  now,  Meriadoc, 
Speak  on. 


MERIADOC. 


I  say  again,  the  time  has  come. 

It  is  a  year  now  since  my  father  died; 

He  was  your  brother,  you  have  loved  him  well, 

Almost  as  I  have  loved  him,  and  I  have  loved 

Your  daughter  and  my  father  and  no  more. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 


Why  do  you  speak  of  me? 

[She  sits  down,  looking  away  from  him. 


MERIADOC. 


I  have  said  the  word, 

Which  must  return  to  silence.    Be  it  so. 

I  speak  another  thing  now.    I  desire 

Vengeance  for  Morolt,  blood  for  Morolt's  blood. 


QUEEN. 

And  I  desire  no  less,  yet,  Meriadoc, 
Since  no  man  knows  the  spiller  of  that  blood, 
Vengeance  is  but  an  arm  that  smites  a  sword 
Into  the  empty,  dark,  and  yielding  air. 


MERIADOC. 

Give  me  but  leave,  and  I  will  find  the  man. 
[  2  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

QUEEN. 

I  will  both  give  you  leave,  and  give  you  that 
Which  when  you  find  him  shall  find  out  his  life 
Surer  than  any  hound.    Here,  take  the  key, 
Iseult;  bring  me  the  knife,  bring  it  with  care, 
You  know  its  secret. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  will  bring  it,  mother. 

[She  goes  back  to  the  inner  room,  unlocks  an 
oak  chest  which  stands  against  the  side  wall, 
and  takes  out  a  sheathed  dagger. 

(To  ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY.)     What  would  you  do 

with  such  a  cruel  thing, 
Kind  cousin  Iseult? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Cast  it  in  the  sea, 

My  manly  hearted  cousin. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  holding  it  up. 

Is  it  not  strange 

That  men  play  such  forbidden  games  with  death, 
And  we  too  deal  the  pieces?    This  rare  thing 
Will  find  the  heart  some  woman's  heart  shall  break  */ 
for. 

[   3   ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISETJLT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Why  do  you  take  it  in  your  hands? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I?     Merely 

To  take  it  to  my  mother. 

[She  carries  it  across  to  her  mother,  who  takes  it, 
turns  it  over,  and  as  she  speaks  gives  it  to 
MERIADOC. 

QUEEN. 

This  knife  I  give  you 

Has  lapped  up  poison  night  by  night,  and  slept 
Under  the  moon,  and  I  have  watched  him  sleep. 
I  give  the  knife  to  you:  use  it  but  once. 

[MERIADOC  takes  the  knife  and  holds  out  the 

cross-shaped  hilt. 


MERIADOC. 

I  swear  upon  this  cross  to  use  the  knife 
Once,  and  no  more.    Cousin,  before  I  go 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Cousin,  no  more  of  that. 


MERIADOC. 

You  take  me  ill. 

It  is  another  thing  I  have  to  ask. 
I  4  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Where  do  you  go? 

MERIADOC. 

To  Cornwall. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

A  stern  land. 

You  know  not  whom  you  seek;  why  do  you  go? 

MERIADOC. 

Give  me  a  thing  you  keep. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  shall  I  give  you? 

MERIADOC. 

The  splinter  of  the  sword  that  killed  my  father. 
Give  it  to  me,  and  it  shall  draw  the  sword 
Out  of  the  deadly  iron  of  the  earth 
Like  a  strong  loadstone;  it  will  know  its  sword.  ^ 

ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  after  a  pause. 

Yes,  I  will  give  it  to  you,  Meriadoc. 

[She  rises  and  moves  slowly  across  the  stage 
towards  the  chest,  which  she  has  left  open.    The 
door  is  thrown  open  and  an  ATTEND  ANT  enters. 
[   5   ] 


TBISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ATTENDANT. 

Lord  Tristan. 

[TRISTAN  enters  and  walks  slowly  towards  the 
QUEEN.  ISEULT  pauses  and  half  turns,  with 
her  hand  on  the  lid  of  the  chest,  looking  fixedly 
at  TRISTAN. 

QUEEN. 

In  the  name  of  both  our  lands, 
Welcome.    A  year  seems  but  a  day  and  night, 
And  I  some  easy  sleeper,  since  we  heard 
The  voices  of  your  harp  among  our  own. 

TRISTAN. 

Madam,  the  heaped  good  wishes  of  a  year, 
Longer  in  absence  than  its  counted  days, 
Crowd  back  each  other,  asking  to  be  first. 

[He  turns  towards  ISEULT,  who  has  slowly 

approached. 

Princess,  I  buy  my  welcome  at  your  hands 
With  songs  that  I  have  made  for  you  to  sing; 
You  loved  them  once. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  am  your  pupil  still. 

[She  goes  towards  MERIADOC  as  if  unconscious 
of  her  intention. 

MERIADOC. 

Iseult!  the  gift! 


TRISTAN  AND   ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  was  it?     I  forget. 

[She  stands  gazing  at  TRISTAN  in  silence. 


QUEEN. 

Was  the  sea  fair  in  coming? 


TRISTAN. 

Fair  and  fierce. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

The  sea  is  friends  with  you. 


TRISTAN. 

I  follow  it: 

I  have  no  other  will  than  the  sea's  will. 


QUEEN. 

My  daughter,  sit  beside  me.    You,  my  lord. 
Here. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  must  have  Iseult  of  the  White  Hands. 
Come,  cousin,  leave  the  armour  of  the  knight: 
It  is  but  wool  upon  a  frame;  but  here 
Is  the  true  knight;  come  down  and  welcome  him. 
[  7  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

[iSEULT  OF  BRITTANY  TISCS  slowly,  lays  down 

the  wool  on  her  embroidery  frame,  and  comes 
slowly  across  the  stage.  The  others  follow  her. 
TRISTAN  rises  and  bows  low. 


TRISTAN. 

I  have  called  off  your  fingers  from  some  dream 
That  you  were  weaving. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  was  only  weaving 

A  knight  in  armour,  dying;  there  is  grass, 

An  apple  orchard,  birds  singing,  and  sheep. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Have  you  not  such  a  story  in  your  songs? 
But  not  so  fair  a  lady  in  your  land 
As  this  that  bears  my  name! 


TRISTAN. 
Few  quite  so  fair, 

For  she  is  fair,  yet  not  as  Helen  was, 
Not  as  you  are. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  is  Helen,  sir,  to  me? 
But  this  white  cousin  Iseult  of  my  name, 
[   8    1 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

Read  me  this  woman,  Tristan;  read  her  soul; 
Look  in  her  eyes  and  tell  me  what  she  is.         v 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  pray  you  do  not  tell  me  what  you  see.    ,/ 

TRISTAN. 

She  has  the  face  of  one  who  is  content, 
Making  a  little  last  with  loving  it. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Is  patience,  then,  the  nurse  of  love?    God  keep 
Such  as  are  patient! 

TRISTAN. 

I  have  read  as  well 

How  earth  was  crumbled  up  for  Helen's  sake 
And  cast  like  crumbs  to  birds. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Is  love  so  cruel? 

Is  it  not  only  in  the  song? 


QUEEN. 
My  daughter, 

Love  is  more  cruel  than  a  savage  beast;   v 
Therefore  fear  love. 

[   9   ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Why,  how  should  the  free  soul 
Fear  any  power  under  the  firmament? 
For  there  are  women  who  have  never  feared 
The  face  of  steel  or  face  of  any  man 
Or  blood  or  battle  or  the  foam  of  the  sea 
When  the  wind  wrings  out  the  sails  and  washes 
them. 

TRISTAN. 
It  is  such  women  that  Love  loves  to  rule. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

How  should  he  rule  them?  they  that  do  not  weave 
A  knight  dying  in  an  orchard,  but  they  can  die. 


TRISTAN. 
Yes,  die  for  love:  a  woman  can  do  that. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

O,  any  woman!  more  than  die  for  love. 
Tristan,  I  had  an  uncle  whom  I  loved, 
More  than  I  ever  shall  love  man;  this  brave, 
This  tender,  more  than  father  to  me,  this 
Glory  of  Ireland,  was  most  foully  slain. 

[She  starts  to  her  feet. 

If  Morolt's  murderer  stood  before  me  now 
As  you  stand  there,  I,  woman  that  I  am, 

[  10  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

(Give  me  your  sword:  I  do  not  fear  to  see 

The  nakedness  of  steel:  give  it  to  my  hand) 

[She  takes  TRISTAN'S  sword  from  him  and  lifts 
it  in  the  air. 

I  would  dare  — 

[She  looks  fixedly  at  the  sword  in  her  hand. 

O,  this  is  some  witchcraft.    No. 

The  sword,  the  sword,  it  cannot  be  the  sword! 

[She  runs  to  the  open  chest,  takes  out  the  splin- 
ter, and  fits  it  to  the  notch  in  the  sword. 

The  sword  is  whole  again.    This  sacred  blood 

Make  my  arm  strong  that  I  may  drink  his  blood! 

Die,  Tristan! 

[She  comes  towards  TRISTAN  with  the  sword 
in  her  hand.  All  rise.  MERIADOC  puts  his 
hand  on  his  dagger.  The  QUEEN  comes  for- 
ward. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY,  Catching  ISEULT    OF 

IRELAND  and  drawing  her  back. 

Iseult,  will  you  murder  him? 
If  you  are  mad,  kill  me! 


QUEEN. 
Is  it  not  madness? 


TRISTAN. 

Strike!  I  am  at  your  mercy. 

t  11 1 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

QUEEN. 

Stay,  Iseult! 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 


Mother,  look  well  upon  the  sword.     See  now, 
Here  is  the  splinter  of  the  sword  that  killed 
Morolt;  see  how  they  grow  together;  see 
The  sword  that  Morolt  died  by. 


QUEEN. 

We  have  been  fooled, 

We  have  given  our  enemy  life. 

MERIADOC,  drawing  his  dagger. 

You  gave  him  life 

That  death  may  find  him  here. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 


No,  Meriadoc. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 


What  is  it  to  you,  Iseult  of  Brittany, 
If  this  man  live  or  die?    No,  Meriadoc, 
My  hand! 


TRISTAN. 


Iseult  of  Ireland,  why  do  you  wait? 
Your  eyes  have  stabbed  me:   finish!   you  have  the 
sword. 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

QUEEN. 

Daughter,  put  down  the  sword,  he  is  our  guest. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

He  has  our  blood  upon  him. 

QUEEN. 

He  has  broken 

Our  bread.    Put  down  the  sword.    Tristan,  your  life 

I  give  you;  get  you  gone  out  of  our  gates. 

No,  stand  aside;  be  silent.    All  of  you 

Stand  further  off  and  leave  us  two  alone. 

[TRISTAN  moves  across  the  stage  and  stands 
alone.  MERIADOC  stands  apart  on  the  other 
side,  eyeing  him.  The  others  go  out  hastily. 
BRANGAENE  lingers  by  the  door. 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  as  she  crosses  the  stage, 
half  supported  by  BRANGAENE. 

What  will  they  do  to  him?    Save  him  for  my  sake, 
Brangaene ! 

BRANGAENE. 

I  do  not  need  to;  he  is  saved. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  shall  we  do,  mother?     Oh,  mother,  tell  me 
Why  could  I  not  kill  Tristan?    I  had  the  will, 
And  it  was  not  your  hand  that  stayed  my  hand. 

[   13  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

QUEEN. 

\  Fate  holds  the  hands  of  all  men  in  the  dark, 
And  there  shall  not  a  drop  of  blood  be  shed 
Before  its  time,  although  we  snatch  up  swords. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Mother,  I  hate  him!  he  has  spilt  our  blood. 
Why  is  it  that  my  eyes  follow  his  eyes, 
As  a  hound  follows  his  master? 


QUEEN. 
Do  not  ask: 

There  is  no  herb  against  the  eyes  of  a  man, 
There  is  no  stone  shall  turn  his  eyes  aside. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Mother,  must  we  forgive  our  enemy 
And  send  his  feet  out  of  our  house  alive? 


QUEEN. 

He  is  our  guest;  we  may  not  do  him  harm. 
Daughter,  if  I,  that  so  loved  Morolt  —  blood 
Could  not  wash  out  the  tears  I  shed  for  him  — 
Can,  for  the  honour  of  our  house,  forgive 
Tristan,  who  slew  him,  can  you  not  forgive? 
V  I  do  not  pardon  him  for  pity,  no, 
But  for  my  troth  and  honour, 
f   14  1 


TKISTAN   AND   ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Alas,  mother, 

That  ever  I  was  born  to  see  this  day! 

MERIADOC,  coming  up. 

O  Queen,  the  knife  is  ready  for  his  throat; 
Say  but  the  word,  and  we  are  all  at  peace. 

QUEEN. 

It  may  not  be;  but  yet  I  know  not  well 

What  must  be,  in  this  backward  drift  of  things. 

[While  she  is  speaking,  BRANGAENE  comes 

forward. 

BRANGAENE. 

O  mistress,  let  me  speak.    These  things  now  past 
Are  over;  but  what  shall  be,  that  is  ours. 
Is  not  the  honour  of  the  Queen  more  worth 
Than  many  lives?     Let  the  Queen's  honour  live. 
As  for  this  knight,  the  kinsman  of  the  King, 
It  may  be  he  has  come,  not  without  cause, 
But  for  your  profit  in  all  honour.    Wait, 
Speak  gently  to  him,  ask  him  why  he  came, 
At  peril  of  his  life,  back  to  these  shores. 


QUEEN. 

This  is  well  thought,  Brangaene. 
[   15  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

He  has  come 

To  bring  into  our  midst  some  kind  of  death. 
I  know  that  if  he  goes  out  of  our  house 
Living,  we  shall  not  all  live  well  or  long. 
How  can  I  hate  him? 

QUEEN. 

Summon  him,  Brangaene. 

[TRISTAN  comes  nearer. 

TRISTAN. 

Madam,  I  see  my  pardon  in  your  eyes. 
I  have  one  word  to  say,  and  then  am  silent 
And  wait  your  mercy.    I  have  brought  on  you 
Sorrow,  yet  of  necessity.    The  sword 
(Of  Morolt  and  my  sword  were  in  God's  hands; 
!We  fought  a  just  and  equal  fight,  and  each 
{< Fought  for  his  life  in  peril  of  his  death. 

QUEEN. 

Tristan,  I  pardon  you,  not  willingly, 
But  for  my  honour,  being  here  my  guest 
And  sacred  to  my  hearth.    Here  is  my  hand. 
Iseult,  your  hand. 

ISEULT   OF   IRELAND. 

Alas,  that  I  must  take 
My  enemy's  hand  in  mine! 

[She  gives  him  her  hand. 
[   16  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  kissing  the  hand  of  the  QUEEN. 

Queen,  you  have  given 

My  life  to  me  twice  over,  and  I  have 

To  serve  you  twofold  now. 

(To  ISEULT.)    Princess,  I  hold 

My  faith  with  you  from  this  forth. 


QUEEN. 

Why  did  you  come, 

Knowing  that  you  are  fatal  to  our  house? 


TRISTAN. 

May  I  speak  out? 

QUEEN. 

Speak  quickly. 

TRISTAN. 

If  I  may  speak 

Freely  a  king's  speech,  and  being  otherwise 

The  enemy  of  a  king,  I  will  disclose 

The  reason  of  my  coming,  which  did  but  wait 

No  more  than  time  for  telling. 


QUEEN. 
If  you  have 
A  friendly  speech,  then  speak  it  as  to  friends. 

[   17   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

I  am  sent  hither  by  King  Mark  of  Cornwall, 
My  uncle,  king  of  an  unconquered  realm, 
Because  he  knew  that  his  best  enemy,  Ireland, 
Held  the  white  pearl  of  the  sea,  and  he  desired 
To  wed  the  fairest  woman  in  the  world. 


QUEEN. 

Is  this  your  word  or  his? 


TRISTAN. 

It  is  his  word. 

I  am  his  speech-bearer,  and  in  his  name 

I  am  to  ask  your  daughter's  hand  for  Mark. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Who  praised  me  to  King  Mark? 


TRISTAN. 


Not  least  of  others, 
I. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 


Then  it  was  a  lying  tongue  that  spoke 
A  coward's  praise. 

[   18  ] 


TRISTAN   AND   ISEULT 


QUEEN. 


Daughter,  there  is  no  queen 

Who  would  need  wooing  more  than  to  be  told 

That  Mark,  the  King  of  Cornwall,  sought  her  hand. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 


Mother,  you  do  wrong  to  women.    I  have  known 
A  woman  who  would  have  had  gladlier 
A  shepherd's  apple  from  a  shepherd's  hand 
Than  crowns  from  shaking  fingers. 


QUEEN. 
This  is  not 

For  you  or  me,  but  for  the  King  your  father. 
The  safety  of  our  land  may  hang  upon  it. 
We  must  have  counsel  and  the  voice  of  the  King. 
Sir,  we  will  give  you  instant  hearing.    Send, 
Brangaene,  quickly,  to  my  lord  the  King 
And  crave  the  King's  good  pleasure. 


BRANGAENE. 

In  haste,  madam. 

[She  goes  to  the  door  and  sends  messengers. 


QUEEN. 

Sir,  this  must  not  be  lightly  thought  upon 
Or  idly  spoken  of.    Weigh  now  your  words 
f    19    1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

And  tell  me:  is  your  king  ready  for  peace? 
His  galleys  have  not  often  come  our  way 
With  less  of  spears  than  oars. 


TRISTAN. 
The  King  desires 
Peace  and  the  marriage  of  two  lands  in  one. 


QUEEN. 
We  also  desire  peace;  but  for  this  marriage 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

May  Iseult  speak? 

QUEEN. 

Speak,  Iseult. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

There  is  no  king 

Could  give  me  greatness  enough  to  fill  up 

The  lack  that  he  would  make  in  me. 


QUEEN. 
What  lack? 

[BRANGAENE  comes  back. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Why,  nothing  but  the  lack  of  my  own  self: 
I  would  rather  be  myself  than  be  a  queen. 
[  20  ] 


TRISTAN   AND   ISEULT 


BRANGAENE. 


To  be  a  queen  is  to  have  all  the  world 
Instead  of  dreaming.    If  you  had  the  world, 
What  would  you  do  with  it? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What,  you  too,  Brangaene? 

QUEEN. 

Brangaene,  summon  those  who  were  in  the  hall. 

[She  goes  out. 

MERIADOC. 

Cousin,  you  should  have  given  me  the  sword ! 

•x. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

The  sword  is  old  now,  and  it  cannot  stir, 
And  we  must  wait. 

[The  guests  re-enter  y  anxiously. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY,  aside. 

What  have  they  done  to  him? 
He  is  living  yet  and  smiles:  I  saw  him  dead. 
She  talks  apart,  patient  and  angry. 
[   21    ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ANOTHER    WOMAN,  aside. 


The  Queen  looks  hard  at  Tristan,  watching  him 
With  some  new  purpose. 


ANOTHER    WOMAN. 

Hush!  here  is  the  King. 

[The  KING  comes  in  and  goes  up  to  the  QUEEN. 


QUEEN. 

My  lord,  a  boon.    I  ask  a  boon  that  lies 

Near  to  my  heart  and  to  your  daughter's  heart. 


KING    OF    IRELAND. 

Is  not  the  thing  you  ask  already  yours? 
You  are  not  so  glad  to  ask  as  I  to  give. 
What  is  the  boon? 


QUEEN. 

My  lord,  to  pardon  Tristan. 

He  stands  before  you;  I  am  surety  for  him; 

He  killed  my  brother  Morolt:  pardon  him. 


KING    OF    IRELAND. 

This  is  the  strangest  boon  was  ever  asked. 
Was  Morolt  not  your  brother?    Yet,  so  be  it. 


TRISTAN   AND   ISEULT 

If  you  have  pardoned  Tristan,  so  have  I. 
Here  is  my  hand,  sir. 


TRISTAN,  kneeling  and  kissing  his  hand. 

Grace,  my  lord  the  King, 
Grace  for  my  lord  and  master. 


KING    OF    IRELAND. 

Be  it  so 

For  you,  since  the  Queen  wills  it,  and  for  him 

In  his  own  honour.    Rise  and  sit  with  me. 


QUEEN. 

My  lord,  this  grave  and  most  unlooked-for  thing, 
Which  sets  my  brother's  slayer  by  my  side, 
Not  at  my  feet,  but  honoured  and  a  guest, 
Brings  not  less  strange  a  fellow  with  it.    This, 
Our  enemy,  comes  from  our  enemy, 
King  Mark  of  Cornwall,  he  that  harried  us, 
And  now,  being  other  minded,  offers  peace. 


KING    OF    IRELAND. 

I  am  well  content 
To  hold  him  for  ally. 


QUEEN. 

More  than  ally. 

He  would  become  our  kinsman,  and  desires 

[  23  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

To  bind  us  to  his  person,  and  has  sent 
His  kinsman  here  to  speak  for  him  and  ask 
The  hand  of  Iseult.     Will  you  answer  him? 


KING    OF    IRELAND. 

The  hand  of  Iseult? 

TRISTAN. 

Even  no  less,  my  lord. 
He  is  a  king,  but  he  is  an  old  man, 
And  cannot  go  about  the  world  and  woo 
A  woman  to  his  side.    He  sent  me  here 
(Being  so  dear  to  him  that  he  willed  me  King 
After  him,  but  I  would  have  none  of  it) 
To  beg  for  him  what,  if  he  do  not  win, 
He  will  not  wed. 


KING    OF    IRELAND. 

Is  he  so  sure  as  that? 

TRISTAN. 

So  sure  that  he  has  said  before  his  lords: 
"I  swear  that  if  I  may  not  have  this  woman 
I  will  have  none." 

KING    OF    IRELAND. 

That  is  well  spoken  of  him. 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

He  said,  moreover,  in  my  private  ear: 
"Say  nothing  of  me,  Tristan,  but  the  truth: 
How  old  I  am,  how  grave,  not  easily  moved, 
But,  being  moved,  unalterable;  a  man 
Not  without  pity,  yet  most  just;  no  youth 
To  flatter  women  in  a  ballad  rhyme, 
Like  you  who  speak  in  stanza.    Tell  her  this 
And  more,"  he  said;    "the  truth:  yet,  win  her, 
Tristan!" 

KING    OF    IRELAND. 

Spoken  like  a  lover  rather  than  a  king. 
He  could  not  ask  for  more,  a  mighty  king, 
And  would  not  ask  for  less.    What  have  you  said, 
My  daughter? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Nothing.     I?     Nothing  at  all. 

QUEEN. 

She  will  not  answer  no.    Trust  me,  my  lord, 
And  trouble  not  the  girl. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Spoken  like  a  king 

Rather  than  like  a  lover.    He  who  speaks  them 

Speaks  the  words  well. 

[   25    1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

You  are  to  be  a  queen; 
You  will  be  happy,  Iseult. 


QUEEN. 

It  remains 

For  us,  my  lord,  to  reason  out  this  thing 
And,  if  our  kingdom  claims,  not  to  deny. 
Were  it  not  well  to  fetter  Mark  to  us 
With  this  unbreakable  and  silken  chain? 
What  says  my  lord? 


KING    OF    IRELAND. 

I  say  that  it  were  well, 

A  happy  thing  for  Ireland  and  for  Cornwall, 

And  the  beginning  of  some  peace  in  the  world. 


TRISTAN. 

Long  live  the  Queen  of  Cornwall! 

[All  crowd  up.    ISEULT  OF  IRELAND  turns  to 

BRANGAENE. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND. 

Come  with  me, 

Brangaene.  We  will  talk  of  being  queens; 
Not  in  this  market,  where  they  bid  for  us, 
But  somewhere  out  of  doors :  I  am  faint  for  air. 

[They  move  across  the  stage  towards  the  door  as 

the  curtain  falls. 

\  26  1 


ACT  II. 


ACT  II. 

The  scene  represents  the  deck  of  TRISTAN'S  ship, 
partly  curtained  of.  There  is  a  couch  against  the 
bulwark;  beside  it  a  table,  on  which  stands  a  cup. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  walking  to  and  fro  restlessly. 
DAY  and  night,  day  and  night,  how  many  hours? 

BRANGAENE. 

We  are  two  nights  from  Ireland,  this  third  day 
Brings  us,  about  the  second  from  noon, 
To  Cornwall. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

To  my  prison. 

BRANGAENE. 

To  your  throne. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  pausing  and  speaking 
earnestly. 

Brangaene,  I  am  sold  to  be  a  queen, 
My  mother  sold  me,  Tristan  bought  me,  Mark 
Pays  down  the  price  and  takes  me.    I  have  wept 
[  29  1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Tears  that  the  sea  could  never  salt,  such  tears 
The  whole  sea  shall  not  wipe  out  of  my  debt. 


BRANGAENE. 

O  mistress,  you  have  not  the  eyes  for  tears. 
Comfort  yourself:  you  shall  take  joy  to  Cornwall, 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

There  is  none  here. 

BRANGAENE. 

It  is  written  in  my  heart. 

• 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Is  it  because  you  love  me  that  you  say 
Comfortable  things  to  me? 

BRANGAENE. 

The  love  I  have 

Runs  forward.    I  am  your  watchdog,  and  I  hear 

A  footstep  in  the  dark. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  do  you  hear? 

What  can  you  hear  but  the  old  feeble  feet 

Of  a  grey  king? 

[  30  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

BRANGAENE. 

Is  it  a  little  thing, 

Kings  will  kneel  down  to  you? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  do  I  want  with  knees 

That  kneel  because  their  joints  are  growing  old? 

I  am  to  be  an  honourable  wife 

To  the  old  king  who  harried  us  till  age 

Quieted  him  into  fear.    He  would  have  peace, 

And  I  am  the  peace-offering. 

BRANGAENE. 

It  may  be 

That  you  will  bring  some  peace  upon  yourself. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Death  would  bring  peace:  if  this  bright  sea  would 

lift 

And  take  me  down  where  Tristan  could  not  dive 
Nor  Mark  cast  nets  upon  me!  no,  nor  Iseult, 
My  cousin  of  Brittany,  with  her  patient  eyes 
Weep  as  she  did  for  Tristan,  not  for  me: 
All  are  against  me. 


BRANGAENE. 

Do  not  think  these  things. 
It  may  be  joy  will  come  to  you,  if  not  peace. 
[  31  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

No,  for  I  think  too  much,  and  there's  too  little 

That  I  can  do.    Why  is  it  I  can  do  nothing? 

The  man  I  would  have  killed  holds  both  my  hands. 
[MERIADOC  comes  forward,  kneels,  and  kisses 
the  hem  of  ISEULT'S  robe,  looking  up  at  her 
intently. 

Cousin,  you  have  some  message  in  your  eyes. 

Tell  it. 


MERIADOC. 

Iseult,  I  kneel  to  you.    Iseult, 
It  might  be  now,  if  you  will  give  the  word. 
He  is  unarmed,  he  leans  beside  the  helm, 
My  men  are  all  about  him;  one  of  them 
Will  strike  the  helmsman,  set  the  helm  about. 
Tristan  is  mine:  this  dagger  is  for  him. 
One  word,  Iseult,  and  you  are  free,  O  queen! 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Tristan  is  mine:  why  do  you  call  him  yours? 
Do  I  not  hate  him  worse  than  you  can  do, 
Because  I  am  a  woman?    If,  some  day, 
He  break  the  faith  that  we  have  sworn  to  him, 
He  is  yours;  do  with  him  what  you  will.    But  now 
There  is  a  bond  between  us,  and  he  must  live 
So  long  as  he  keeps  faith  with  his  own  word. 

[MERIADOC  rises  sullenly. 

[  32  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 


MERIADOC. 


The  blood  of  Morolt  sinks  into  my  soul: 

I  have  not  sworn,  take  off  your  hand  from  me. 

It  is  for  you  I  wait  and  do  not  strike. 

Say  now  that  I  may  free  my  soul  and  yours! 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Meriadoc,  stand  here.    No,  closer:  here. 

Give  me  your  dagger.     (He  gives  her  the  dagger 

eagerly.} 

Do  you  still  obey 
My  will  because  it  is  my  will? 

MERIADOC,  excitedly. 
Yes,  yes! 
Iseult,  the  word  now! 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  holding  out  the  dagger. 

Swear,  then,  on  this  cross 

To  keep  your  faith  with  Tristan  while  he  keeps 

His  faith  with  me! 

MERIADOC. 

I  am  your  slave;  yet  ask 
Some  other  thing  than  this. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Swear  on  this  cross! 

I  33  1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

MERIADOC. 

Iseult,  my  life  is  yours. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Swear! 

MERIADOC. 

Take  my  life 

And  give  me  this  man's! 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Swear  upon  the  cross ! 


MERIADOC. 

I  swear. 

[He  holds  out  his  hand  over  the  hilt  of  the  dagger, 
then  takes  the  dagger  and  puts  it  back  in  its 
sheath. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Call  Tristan.    I  would  speak  with  him. 

[MERIADOC  bends  low  and  goes  out. 


BRANGAENE. 

Is  it  well? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

It  is  well.    I  am  tired  of  silence. 
Have  no  fear.    I  will  talk  with  him  alone. 
[   34   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

And  you,  for  you  are  tired,  give  your  eyes  rest 
And  go  and  sleep  a  little.    I  will  call 
If  I  should  need  you. 


BRANGAENE. 

I  am  indeed  sick 

For  lack  of  sleep;  but  should  I  leave  you? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Go. 

Sleep,  rest,  and  come  again. 

[BRANGAENE  goes  out. 

[ISEULT  sits  in  meditation. 

[There  is  a  pause,  and  TRISTAN  enters. 


TRISTAN. 

You  sent  for  me. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

You  would  not  come  unless  I  sent  for  you. 

TRISTAN. 

I  feared  to  come  uncalled. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

How  is  this,  sir? 

You  did  not  fear,  I  think,  to  come  uncalled 

To  Ireland. 

[   35   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

I  was  sent. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

You  did  not  come 

For  any  will  of  yours  —  that  I  know  well; 
And  yet  you  came.    It  is  not  what  we  would, 
But  what  we  must  do,  that  we  do. 


TRISTAN. 

True,  madam. 

For  me,  I  have  always  done  what  the  sea  would : 

Once  the  sea  took  me  to  you,  and  now  again 

It  casts  me  back  to  you  the  second  time. 

I  do  not  know  why  I  am  on  this  ship. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

You  are  my  gaoler. 

TRISTAN. 

You  are  bitter,  madam. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

You  have  been  bitter  to  me  from  the  first. 
Before  I  knew  you  I  had  never  known 
Sorrow;  it  was  your  courage  and  your  craft 
That  brought  sorrow  upon  me.    What  ill  star 
Led  you  from  Cornwall  into  Ireland? 
f   36   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

What 

May  not  the  blind  stars  do  with  us  who  are  blind? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Once  had  your  sword  not  eyes?    But  none  of  that. 
I  will  but  ask  you  why  you  drag  me  out 
From  my  own  land  into  this  foreign  land 
To  be  a  stranger  among  strangers.    Where 
You  carry  me  I  know  not,  nor  what  price 
Was  paid  for  me,  nor  what  shall  be  the  end. 

TRISTAN. 

Say  what  you  will,  I  have  not  done  you  wrong 
To  bring  you  to  a  kingdom.    You  shall  find 
Peace  in  it  and  a  crown;  you  shall  have  riches 
And  pleasure  and  content  and  idleness, 
And  you  shall  be  the  wife  of  a  great  king. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Sir,  I  would  rather  have  a  lower  lot 

In  my  own  land,  and  love  with  it,  than  here 

A  loveless  trouble  with  great  riches. 


TRISTAN. 

No, 

Not  loveless  and  not  troubled,  but  the  pride 
And  wage  of  beauty:  all  men's  eyes  and  one 
Man's  love  upon  you. 

[  37  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Have  you  such  a  wage? 

Is  it  for  love  that  you  would  have  me  wed 

An  old  king  in  an  island  of  my  foes? 


TRISTAN. 

For  love  of  love,  for  love  of  power,  for  pride. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Who  shall  I  have  to  look  into  my  eyes 
That  I  may  be  his  life  and  death  to  him? 

TRISTAN. 
I  may  not  answer  you.    You  gave  me  life. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

You  have  been  evil  to  me,  and  not  good, 
And  yet  I  gave  you  life.    Is  this  well  done? 


TRISTAN. 
You  gave  me  life.    I  thanked  you  for  the  gift. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  would  have  given  you  death.    The  second  time 
Why  was  it  that  I  did  not  give  you  death? 
Why  did  I  give  you  life? 

[  38  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  half  drawing  his  sword  and  holding  the 

hilt  towards  her. 
I  give  you  back 
The  gift  you  gave,  if  you  will  have  it  back. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Tristan,  stand  fast,  and  keep  me  to  my  word. 
I  keep  you  to  your  word  to  me.    Stand  fast, 
For  there  is  blood  between  us. 

[She  starts  to  her  feet. 


TRISTAN. 

For  that  blood 

Have  I  not  made  atonement?    Let  there  be 

Peace  between  you  and  me. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  peace?     What  peace? 

TRISTAN. 

If  there  is  no  peace  left  us  possible, 
There  is  no  less  one  thing  between  us  two  — 
Honour:  let  everything  but  honour  die. 
The  past  is  dead  already;  for  the  future 
We'll  also  say  Amen;  for  what  now  is, 
The  present  of  this  instant,  I  have  sworn 
To  bring  you  of  all  women  for  a  wife 
Home  to  my  lord  the  King.    I  serve  my  King 
[  39  ] 


TRISTAN   AND   ISEULT 

In  all  things  honourable;  I  will  serve 

My  Queen  in  all  things  as  I  serve  my  King. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 


Where  is  it  written  that  I  shall  be  served 
By  this  wise  enemy,  who  stole  my  peace 
As  a  thief  takes  a  jewel?    If  there  be 
Atonement  for  the  blood  that  you  have  shed, 
How  can  there  be  atonement  for  my  peace? 


TRISTAN. 
All  things  may  be  forgotten. 

ISEULT    OF   IRELAND. 

All  things  past 

Were  well  forgotten,  when  to  think  of  them 
Burns  like  a  fire.    Then,  lest  I  should  forget 
That  all  things  are  forgotten,  let  us  seal 
This  covenant.    I  will  bid  Brangaene  —  no, 
Brangaene  is  asleep.    Where  is  the  child 
Who  loves  to  wait  upon  me?     Child! 

[A  CHILD  puts  aside  a  curtain  and  runs  up. 
Bring  me  some  wine, 
A  flagon,  and  a  cup,  and  fill  the  cup. 

[The  CHILD  runs  back  and  returns  with  a 
flagon  and  a  cup,  which  she  fills. 
[ISEULT  takes  it  from  her,  and  she  goes  quietly 
back  through  the  curtain  with  the  empty  flagon. 
(  40  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

This  wine  shall  wash  out  Morolt's  blood.    I  drink 
Forgetfulness,  I  put  away  my  hate, 
I  will  love  no  man,  I  will  be  friends  with  you, 
Tristan,  for  Mark's  sake,  I  will  be  a  queen, 
I  will  wed  Mark.    Pledge  me!  my  husband,  Mark! 
[She  drinks  and  hands  him  the  cup. 


TRISTAN. 

Health  to  Iseult,  honour  and  peace  to  Mark ! 

[He  drinks. 

[There  is  a  long  pause,  and  they  slowly  recoil 
from  each  other,  looking  with  amazement  in 
each  other's  eyes. 

[The  cup  drops  from  his  hands. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Tristan! 

TRISTAN. 

Iseult!     O,  is  it  life  or  death, 
Iseult?     Am  I  awakening  into  death? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  too,  I  think  I  am  awakening. 

Wait  for  me,  Tristan,  I  have  been  asleep. 


TRISTAN. 
Iseult! 

[   41   ] 


TRISTAN   AND   ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  will  not  go  to  sleep  again, 

But  you  did  well  to  waken  me.    I  thank  you. 


TRISTAN. 

But  yesterday  death  was  not;  nay,  no  more 
Than  even  such  an  instant  point  of  time, 
And  there  is  something  born  into  the  world: 
Is  it  death,  is  it  love?     I  cannot  tell; 
Only  it  is  an  ending  and  a  birth. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

You  have  been  crying  to  me  in  my  dreams; 
I  heard  your  voice,  I  thought  it  was  the  sea, 
And  that  awoke  me,  and  I  find  you  here. 


TRISTAN. 
I  think  I  have  been  always  at  your  side. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

No,  no,  not  always:  I  remember  now, 
There  was  another  time  before  this  time. 
This  is  the  sea,  Ireland  is  far  away; 
But  you  are  with  me  and  I  am  awake  at  last, 
[  42  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

^  TRISTAN. 

I  do  not  think  that  I  am  yet  awake. 

What  is  it  that  has  bound  me  with  these  chains 

That  burn  like  shining  fire  about  my  soul? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  is  it  that  has  set  me  free?    I  feel 
As  if  a  boundless  joy  had  given  me  wings: 
I  am  as  universal  as  the  sun. 
Look,  Tristan,  there  is  nothing  here  but  light: 
Light  in  the  sky,  light  in  the  hollow  sea, 
The  encircling  and  caressing  light  of  the  air! 
Light  eats  into  my  flesh  and  drinks  me  up: 
I  am  a  cup  for  the  immense  thirst  of  light; 
I  cannot  see  you,  Tristan,  for  the  light. 

TRISTAN. 

Iseult,  I  see  you  wrapped  about  with  light 
As  in  a  glory,  clothed  and  garlanded, 
And  your  face  shines,  it  dazzles  me;  your  eyes 
Are  burning  out  of  brightness  like  two  flames. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Tristan,  I  love  you. 

TRISTAN. 

Iseult! 

[They  rush  into  each  other's  arms. 
I  have  loved 

Your  hatred,  now  I  love  you  for  your  love, 
f  43   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  looking  up  at  him,  in 
the  embrace. 

Have  we  been  foes?     I  think  we  have  been  foes. 
Look  deeper,  Tristan,  deeper  in  my  heart. 


TRISTAN. 

I  look  into  your  eyes,  you  have  grey  eyes, 
They  are  as  deep  and  changing  as  the  sea, 
There  is  not  any  shadow  in  your  eyes. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  withdrawing  from  the 
embrace. 

There  is  a  weary,  salt,  and  bitter  thing 
That  eats  my  heart.    I  know  not  what  it  is. 

[She  moves  a  few  steps  away. 


TRISTAN. 

Yet  love  is  stronger  than  the  sea  or  death. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  crouching  down  on  the 
seat  by  the  bulwarks. 

0  what  is  love,  and  why  is  love  so  bitter 
After  the  blinding  sweetness  of  a  moment? 

1  am  afraid,  I  am  afraid  of  love. 

This  is  some  death  that  has  got  hold  on  me; 
The  night  is  coming  back  into  my  soul. 
[  44   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Tristan,  I  am  afraid.    If  this  is  love, 
I  am  afraid  of  the  intolerable  love. 

[She  covers  her  face  with  her  hands. 
[There  is  a  long  pause. 

[Tristan  looks  at  her  in  silence,  then  goes  up  to 
her  slowly  and  touches  her  on  the  shoulder. 


TRISTAN. 

Fear  not,  Iseult;  this  thing  must  be  endured; 
We  have  not  sought  it,  it  must  be  endured. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  looking  up  slowly. 

0  is  this  love,  and  must  we  endure  love? 

1  did  not  know  that  love  was  so  like  death. 
O  sorrowful,  unkind,  unhappy  love! 


TRISTAN. 

I  think  that  from  this  moment  we  have  done 
With  being  happy  or  unhappy:  all 
We  have  to  do  is  only  to  rejoice 
Because  we  are  together  and  alive. 


ISEULT    OF   IRELAND. 

You  do  not  fear?     You  do  not  wonder  now? 
Love  me  no  better  than  I  love  you,  Tristan! 
Tristan,  I  still  wonder  and  am  afraid, 
f  45   1 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 


TRISTAN. 


Love  casts  out  fear,  not  wonder.    Is  it  not 
A  thing  past  wonder  that,  of  all  the  dust 
Time  shakes  out  of  his  hourglass,  he  has  made 
This  little  hour  for  us  to  meet  in? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Yes, 

I  will  believe  it,  but  not  wonder  at  it. 
Tristan,  I  am  content.     I  will  not  fear. 
There  shall  be  now  for  us  nothing  of  all 
That  has  been  all  things  to  us;  we  are  gone 
A  great  way  out  into  an  unknown  sea; 
There  is  no  land  behind  us.    Look,  Tristan, 
The  sea  is  naked  as  the  hand  of  a  man, 
The  sea  gathers  us  up  into  its  hand. 
Take  me  in  your  arms  and  kiss  me  on  the  mouth. 
[He  takes  her  in  his  arms  and  kisses  her. 


BRANGAENE,  rushing  in. 

O  woe!     O  woe!     O  most  unhappy  woman! 
What  have  I  done?     I  would  that  I  had  died! 
Why  did  you  let  me  sleep  away  your  life? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  does  this  mean,  Brangaene? 
[  46  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISETJLT 


BRANGAENE. 


The  cup!     The  cup! 

[She  snatches  up  the  flagon  from  the  table. 


TRISTAN. 

What  of  the  cup? 

BRANGAENE. 

O  mistress,  there  is  death, 

And  worse  than  death,  hid  in  the  cup.     \J 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Why,  what  is  worse  than  death? 


BRANGAENE. 

Love.  * 

ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  eagerly. 

And  the  cup, 

It  was  the  cup  of  love? 


BRANGAENE. 

It  was  the  cup 

Of  love.    Your  mother  bade  me  give  it  you 
Upon  your  marriage-night.    It  would  have  bound 
Your  heart  and  the  King's  heart  into  one  heart. 
But  now,  but  now,  mistress,  what  have  you  done? 
[  47  ] 


TRISTAN  AND   ISEULT 

ISETJLT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  have  done  that  which  shall  not  be  undone. 
Give  me  the  cup. 

[BRANGAENE  gives  it  to  her  reluctantly. 

[She  takes  it  in  both  hands  and  holds  it  against 

her  breast,  reverently. 
O  sacred  cup  of  love 
And  death,  I  hold  you. 

[Then  she  casts  it  far  out  into  the  sea. 
And  I  cast  you  out, 

That  no  man  save  this  man  may  drink  of  you, 
Nor  any  other  woman. 


TRISTAN. 

I  have  drunk 

A  poison  that  no  man  has  ever  tasted, 

For  it  has  withered  honour  in  my  heart 

And  filled  my  soul  up  with  forgetfulness.  > 

There  was  a  king  for  whom  I  would  have  died. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

All  this  shall  be  forgotten.    What  must  be 
Must  be,  and  it  is  we  who  have  been  bound 
Together,  and  this  king  I  am  to  marry 
Is  as  a  stranger  I  shall  never  know. 
Blessed  be  the  cup  of  love,  and,  O  Brangaene, 
I  bless  those  little  hands  that  gave  it  me, 
Innocent  hands,  not  knowing  what  they  gave. 
You  also  shall  be  blessed,  because  you  slept 
And  all  your  wisdom  could  not  hold  me  back 
From  what  I  had  to  do. 

[  48  ] 


TRISTAN  AND   ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

What  does  she  say 
Of  death? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Good  tidings,  Tristan. 


BRANGAENE. 

Evil  tidings. 

There  were  both  love  and  death  hid  in  the  cup; 

This  cup  shall  be  one  death  to  both  of  you. 


TRISTAN. 

/ 

I  could  not  love  you,  Iseult,  and  not  die. 

[MERIADOC  comes  in,  looking  scrutinizingly 
at  the  three,  and  comes  forward  anxiously. 


MERIADOC. 

My  lady  has  no  further  need  of  me. 
Now  it  is  Tristan  who  must  keep  his  faith, 
And  I  with  Tristan,  for  her  eyes  are  changed. 
They  tell  me,  Tristan,  that  from  this  day  forth 
I  have  to  serve  you. 


TRISTAN,  holding  out  his  hand. 

As  a  friend  a  friend. 

[MERIADOC  clasps  hands  with  TRISTAN,  who 
moves  aside  and  leans  against  the  bulwark  of 
the  ship. 

[  49  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Call  me  the  little  maid. 

[MERIADOC  goes  out  and,  after  a  moment,  the 

CHILD  enters. 
Come,  little  one. 

Child,  give  me  both  your  hands;  closer  to  me. 
I  want  to  look  at  you  and  hold  your  hands. 
I  think  I  love  you.    Do  you  love  me,  child? 


CHILD. 
Yes,  lady,  dearly. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

When  you  brought  me  wine 
You  gave  me  something  that  you  did  not  know, 
And  I  too  did  not  know.    I  took  the  cup 
Out  of  these  little  hands,  and  now  I  kiss 
Your  hands  because  you  gave  me  a  great  gift. 

[She  kisses  her  two  hands,  one  after  the  other. 


CHILD. 

O  lady,  I  would  give  you  all  the  world. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Why  so  you  have;  you  have  given  me  all  the  world. 
[   50  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

CHILD. 

I  gave  you  nothing.    When  you  are  a  queen  — 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  shall  I  give  you  when  I  am  a  queen? 

CHILD. 
I  want  to  see  you  with  a  golden  crown. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

And  is  that  all? 

CHILD. 

I  want  you  to  be  just 

As  happy  always  as  you  are  to-day. 

Is  it  because  of  the  crown?     You  used  to  be 

Prouder,  but  not  so  happy. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  do  not  know. 

Perhaps  it  is  not  good  to  be  a  queen. 

I  am  going  to  a  land  I  do  not  know. 

CHILD,  looking  away. 

Look,  look,  there  is  the  land!  O,  is  it  Cornwall? 

[The  CHILD  runs  away  and  looks  over  the  side 
of  the  ship. 

(  51   ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

[TRISTAN  comes  back  towards  ISEULT  and 

BRANGAENE. 

[SAILORS,  etc.,  come  forward  over  the  deck, 
making  preparations  for  landing. 


CRIES,  within. 
Ho!     Cornwall! 

BRANGAENE. 

Mistress! 

TRISTAN. 

Iseult! 

CRIES,  within. 
Cornwall !     Cornwall ! 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Is  this  my  kingdom?    Why,  an  angry  shore. 
Tristan,  your  hand,  to  lead  me  to  the  King! 

[Smiling,  she  holds  out  her  hand  to  him  as  the 

curtain  falls. 


ACT  III. 


ACT  III. 

The  scene  represents  a  garden  in  the  palace  of  KING 
MARK  at  Tintagel,  overlooking  the  sea.  The  sea  is 
seen  below,  through  the  trees  at  the  edge  of  the  rocky 
cliff.  It  is  nearly  dawn  on  a  day  in  summer. 

KING  MARK  comes  out  hurriedly  from  under  the 
trees  on  the  right,  dragging  after  him  MELOT  the  jester, 
who  throws  himself  at  his  feet. 


KING    MARK. 

You  saw  the  Queen? 

MELOT. 

My  lord,  I  saw  the  Queen. 
Master!  forgive  me! 

KING    MARK. 

Once  you  saw  the  Queen 
Under  the  willow-trees  beside  the  spring; 
You  put  a  poison  into  both  my  ears: 
Where  was  truth  then? 

[   55   ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

MELOT. 

Master,  this  tale  is  true. 

It  is  my  sorrow  that  I  tell  you  truth, 

Because  I  love  you.    Let  the  fool  speak  truth! 


KING    MARK. 

I  wrong  no  woman  and  no  man  again 

For  any  idle  speech.    You  have  been  warned. 

Now,  still  you  saw  the  Queen? 


MELOT. 

I  saw  the  Queen, 
Past  midnight  — 

KING    MARK. 

How?    You  do  not  sleep  by  night? 
You  spy  for  me  by  night? 


MELOT. 
J  I  had  slept;  I  dreamed. 

KING    MARK. 

Well,  and  your  dream? 

MELOT. 

The  horn  of  the  white  moon 
Pointed. 

[   56   ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

KING    MARK. 


Well,  well? 


MELOT. 


I  heard  an  owlet  hoot 
Three  times;  three  callings. 


KING    MARK. 

But  the  dream? 

MELOT. 

I  rose, 

Because  the  moon  called  and  the  owlet  called; 
I  looked  out  of  my  window:  all  the  ground 
Was  moist  because  of  the  long  evening  rain. 
I  saw  his  footprints. 


KING    MARK. 

Wherefore  his? 


MELOT. 

They  led 

From  under  Tristan's  window.    This  is  truth, 

Master,  the  truth  of  God! 


KING    MARK. 

You  followed  them? 

[  57  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 


MELOT. 


I  followed,  and  where  he  had  set  his  feet 
I  set  my  feet,  footprint  for  footprint.    So, 
Stepping  without  a  trace,  delicately, 
I  came  to  the  Queen's  window. 


KING    MARK. 

He  was  there? 

MELOT. 

He  stood  and  reached  his  hands  to  her,  who  stood 
Higher  than  she  could  reach  him,  though  she  leaned 
Her  right  arm  from  the  casement,  murmuring. 


KING    MABK. 

What  did  she  say? 

[KING  MARK  clutches  his  arm. 
Come,  you  must  say  the  words, 
But  quietly. 

MELOT. 
Master,  you  hurt  me. 


KING    MARK. 

Come, 

The  words  she  said. 

[  58  ] 


TRISTAN  AND   ISEULT 


MELOT. 


I  could  not  hear  the  words. 

But  Tristan  stood  and  lifted  up  his  hands, 

Entreating  something,  and  she  laughed. 


KING    MARK. 

She  laughed. 

Then  she  was  only  merry;  a  wild  jest, 

No  more  than  that.    And  she  was  flushed? 


MELOT. 
.  No,  pale, 

s>  I  And  Tristan  paler,  and  both  as  if  some  hunger 
Starved  both  their  faces  thin. 


KING    MARK. 

That's  not  so  good. 
And  then? 

MELOT. 

Then  Tristan  turned,  and  I  drew  back. 
I  looked  again,  he  seemed  to  say  farewell, 
And  I  went  softly  backward  in  his  steps, 
Crept  in  at  my  own  window,  watched,  and  saw 
Tristan  returning. 

KING    MARK. 

If  this  thing  be  true, 

Which  cannot  be,  or  there 's  an  end  of  truth, 
Yet  may  be  true,  and  then,  why,  Tristan's  dead. 
[  59  ] 


TKISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Not  a  word  more,  Melot;  he  was  my  sword: 
Swords  may  dig  graves;  but  yet  it  is  not  true. 
Her  eyes  are  naked  to  me,  clean  as  light, 
It  is  impossible  to  doubt  her  eyes. 

[He  walks  away  and  comes  back  as  he  speaks. 
No,  no,  I  '11  not  believe  it :  if  it  be, 
These  two  have  done  dishonour  on  their  souls 
Deep  as  my  hurt,  deeper  than  any  hurt. 
Melot,  my  friend,  my  fool,  what  have  I  done 
That  I  should  house  this  grief?    If  this  be  so, 
My  fool  must  pity  me. 

[MELOT  embraces  his  feet. 
I  wrong  myself 
Even  to  doubt.    I  should  not  hear  your  words. 

MELOT. 

Have  you  not  seen  their  faces  as  they  burned 
Like  flame  on  flame? 


KING    MARK. 

I  have  seen  their  faces  burn 

Like  flame  on  flame.    Why  should  a  natural  fire 

Not  burn?     And  why  should  we  put  out  the  day? 

MELOT. 
Master,  master,  I  have  not  told  you  all. 

KING    MARK. 

The  truth,  Melot,  and,  before  God,  the  truth! 
f   60   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

MELOT. 

What  if  I  tell  you  of  the  very  hour  — 

It  is  an  hour  from  now  —  here,  in  this  garden. 

Do  you  not  hunt  to-night? 

KING    MARK. 

Before  the  dawn. 

MELOT. 

Is  Tristan  with  you? 

KING    MARK. 

Tristan  would  not  come. 

MELOT. 

Before  the  dawn  they  will  be  here  together. 
Will  you  be  led  by  Melot?    Go  your  way, 
Feign  to  lead  off  the  hunt;  but  come  again, 
Suddenly,  in  an  hour,  where  Melot  is, 
And  you  shall  take  them  in  each  other's  arms. 

KING    MARK. 

What  if  I  thrust  this  sword  into  your  heart 
You  would  have  me  lift  on  Tristan? 


MELOT. 

Sire,  to-morrow 

Thrust  your  sword  deeper  down  into  my  heart 
Than  any  lie  you  find  there. 

[  61   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

KING    MARK. 

Who  of  us, 

I  wonder,  Melot,  is  to  die  to-night? 

I  have  trusted  only  one  man  in  the  world 

And  loved  only  one  woman.    If  these  two 

Are  now  in  league  against  me,  I  am  cast  out 

Of  an  unnatural  and  foolish  heaven 

They  lured  me  into.    Were  it  not  but  just 

If  with  one  sword  I  slew  these  two?    And  then  — 

MELOT,  crouching  beside  him. 

My  lord,  my  lord,  you  will  not  lift  your  hand 
Against  your  own  life?     Swear  it  on  the  cross! 

[He  snatches  up  a  gold  cross  which  KING  MARK 
wears  on  his  chain  and  holds  it  up  to  him. 

KING    MARK. 

No,  no,  there  are  no  oaths  for  me.    I  speak 
I  know  not  what.    Death  is  a  woman  and  plays 
A  secret  game  with  us.    What  shall  it  be 
If  this  be  true,  if  this  impossible, 
Unthinkable,  all  too  likely  thing  be  true? 

[He  goes  slowly  out,  followed  by  MELOT.  There 
is  a  pause,  and  TRISTAN  and  ISEULT  OF 
IRELAND  come  slowly  out  from  under  the  trees 
on  the  left.  They  move  partly  across  the 
garden,  then  stop,  and  stand  face  to  face. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

If  death  should  come  upon  us  in  this  hour, 
What  would  you  say?    Would  you  thank  God  for 
life? 

[   62   J 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

I  would  thank  God  for  life, 
For  I  have  lived,  this  hour,  two  lives  in  one. 
Have  I  not  held  your  body  with  my  hands? 
Have  I  not  drunk  your  soul  up  with  my  lips? 
Have  I  not  hated  you  with  all  my  love? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Is  it  the  dawn?    Look  up.    Do  not  the  stars 
Doubt  and  not  know  if  it  is  day  or  night? 
Night  has  not  been,  and  this  is  not  the  dawn. 


TRISTAN. 

It  is  the  dawn.     Why  is  it  I  must  go? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  cannot  let  you  go.    Listen:  the  leaves 

Are  still,  and  the  sea  scarcely  shivers.    Come, 

I  will  not  let  you  go. 

TRISTAN. 

Shall  I  stay  here 
Until  you  bid  me  go? 

ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  gathering  handfuls  of  roses. 

No,  no,  for  that 

Would  never  be.    See  where  the  roses  burn! 
f   63   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

These  roses  are  the  prodigals  of  June, 
They  burn,  they  waste  to  ashes,  they  are  a  fire 
Too  spendthrift  of  the  summer.  Take  them,  Tristan. 
Do  you  not  feel  the  blood  of  the  roses  burn 
Between  my  fingers  into  both  your  hands? 


TRISTAN. 

I  have  let  them  fall. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Let  them  lie  there  and  die 

Before  they  know  the  long  rains  of  the  year 

And  weeping  autumn.    So  should  all  flowers  die, 

And  we.    Will  you  not  linger  if  I  talk 

Of  roses  and  heap  up  into  your  hands 

So  many  that  you  cannot  see  my  face? 

[They  sit  down  on  a  stone  seat  ifnder  the  trees, 

beside  the  rosebushes. 
And  yet:  must  you  not  go? 


TRISTAN. 
The  light  begins 

To  search  into  your  eyes.    Is  it  your  face? 
I  shall  not  find  it  when  I  look  again. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  flinging  her  arms  around  him. 

I  cannot  let  you  go;  I  put  my  hands 
About  your  neck;  I  hold  you  with  my  hands. 
You  will  not  leave  me  while  I  hold  you  fast? 
f   64   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 


TRISTAN. 


How  should  I  leave  my  love,  my  sustenance, 
And  go  into  an  exile  willingly? 
And  yet  you  catch  at  me  as  if  you  feared 
That  I  would  let  you  go. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  hold  you  fast 

Because  I  fear:  hold  me  and  comfort  me. 
Swear  over  the  old  oaths,  they  are  all  here, 
Here  is  my  heart;  but  swear  them  over,  Tristan, 
Before  you  go;  and  kiss  me  in  the  neck. 


TRISTAN. 

I  have  no  words  that  can  be  said  twice  over. 

[He  kisses  her. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Tristan,  it  is  my  life 

Your  lips  drink  up:  I  cannot  bear  your  lips: 
I  feel  them  to  the  marrow  of  my  bones. 
O  I  would  be  a  fire  and  burn  your  lips, 

0  I  would  be  a  beast  and  eat  your  lips, 

1  would  annihilate  their  sweetness.    Now 
My  blood  is  all  an  anguish  of  desire. 

Speak,  slay  me,  do  not  kiss  me.    Kiss  me  now! 
[   65   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  drawing  back  from  her  and  looking  into 
her  eyes. 

Iseult,  there  is  an  end, 
Men  say,  to  love. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

O  foolish  men! 

TRISTAN. 

For  us 

Shall  our  love  have  an  end?    Shall  time  pluck  out 

Our  eyes,  put  out  our  blood?    Shall  we  two  see 

Each  other  and  not  tremble?    I  hold  your  hands 

In  both  my  hands:  one  day  shall  we  take  hands 

And  not  a  vein  in  either  of  them  leap  up 

To  bid  the  other  welcome? 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

What  shall  time 

Steal  from  the  blood?    What  is  there  he  can  steal 

Out  of  the  marrow  that  is  in  the  bones? 


TRISTAN. 

Nothing;  the  blood  and  marrow,  these  remain, 
But  there  is  something  over  in  the  soul 
That  will  not  be  cast  out.    I  have  drunk  up 
All  but  forgetfulness. 

[  66  ] 


TRISTAN   AND   ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

I  have  drunk  up 

Forgetfulness.    It  was  a  bitter  draught; 

Lees  of  the  drink :  Mark  and  a  marriage-bed ! 

But  the  first  draught,  the  sweetness  of  it,  Tristan ! 


TRISTAN. 

I  have  forgotten  that  I  had  a  friend. 

He  would  have  thrust  a  crown  upon  me,  but 

I  had  no  uses  for  it.    No  man  loved      - 

Another  as  he  loved  me,  and  now,  now  -" 

My  neck  is  set  into  a  felon's  noose: 

I  am  dragged  up  and  down  here  in  the  dust. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

v     Love  is  a  sword,  and  the  sword  severs  friends; 
Love  is  a  fire  and  burns  all  lesser  things. 
Love  is  not  love 
Unless  it  root  up  honour  like  a  weed. 


TRISTAN. 

Love  is  not  love  unless  it  honour  honour 
Above  all  mortal  things. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

There  is  a  thing 

Which  is  the  faith  of  love:  I  know  none  else, 
[  67  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

No  other  God,  or  king,  or  counsellor, 
No  crown,  no  joy,  no  glory,  and  it  devours 
All  pleasures  and  all  bonds  and  is  a  flame 
No  wind  shall  put  out. 


TRISTAN. 

Only  now  a  wind 

Has  put  my  honour  out,  as  a  wind  blows 

A  candle  out,  and  all  the  room  is  dark. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Why  will  you  cry  that  barren  bastard  word 
Honour?    I  tell  you,  Tristan,  I  would  now 
Walk  up  the  minster  aisle  at  Caerleon, 
Barefoot  before  the  bishops  and  their  God, 
And  hold  the  red-hot  iron  in  my  hand. 
Fire  would  not  burn  me:   God  would  do  me  right: 
I  have  not  sinned  against  the  honour  of  love. 


TRISTAN. 

What  have  I  done  that  any  woman  born 
Should  love  me  so  beyond  her  soul?    God  knows 
That  I  must  love  you,  Iseult,  beyond  death. 

[He  kneels  down  and  kisses  her  hand. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Death  shall  end  all  things:  we  are  quiet  then: 
I  shall  not  want  your  love  when  I  am  dead: 
[   68  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Take  back  your  honour  and  let  it  warm  your  grave; 
But,  till  the  grasses  creep  and  cover  me, 
Tristan,  this  is  my  body  and  my  blood, 
And  they  are  yours. 


TRISTAN. 

The  world  passes  away, 
You  have  put  the  world  into  a  dusty  pit, 
And  all  is  covered  up.    Do  with  my  life 
What  you  would  do  with  it. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Shall  I  know  your  soul? 

Tristan,  what  if  the  King  should  find  us  here? 


TRISTAN. 

I  would  not  raise  my  hand  against  my  King: 
If  he  would  slay  me,  he  has  but  to  strike. 


ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  starting  to  her  feet. 

Coward  to  me! 

Let  Mark's  right  hand  fumble  about  your  heart 
With  the  hunting  knife  that  never  killed  a  deer! 
Have  I  no  place  there?  Would  you  have  him  find 

me 

There,  where  he  looks  to  find  me? 
[   69  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

He  is  my  King. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Will  you  be  false  to  me,  and  for  a  king? 

TRISTAN. 

Why  do  you  look  upon  me  with  such  eyes? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Tristan,  take  hold  of  me,  and  hold  me  fast, 
And  hurt  my  fingers  between  both  your  hands, 
And  kiss  me  on  the  lips,  and  say  I  have  lied! 

TRISTAN. 

I  kiss  your  head  that  God  made  for  a  crown, 
But  I  will  swear  no  oaths  now  any  more: 
We  have  said  all  that  need  be  said  till  death. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Now,  go;  go  quickly;  for  the  dawn  is  here. 
How  soon  it  comes!    I  did  not  see  it  come, 
And  how  the  day  has  all  its  eyes  on  us. 
Hark,  what  was  that?    No,  do  not  stir. 

[She  seizes  him. 
I  70  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

I  hear 
Brangaene  calling. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

She  is  running,  see, 
Under  the  trees. 

[BRANGAENE  comes  towards  them,  running. 


BRANGAENE. 

Mistress ! 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Why  do  we  know 

The  thing  before  it  comes  and  not  believe  it? 

Is  it  the  King,  Brangaene? 


BRANGAENE. 

It  is  the  King! 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Were  we  not  talking,  Tristan,  of  to-morrow? 
There  shall  be  no  to-morrow.    This  is  well. 


BRANGAENE,  panting. 

The  King  came  to  the  gate,  he  stayed  at  the  gate; 
Melot  rose  up  out  of  a  spying  corner 

[  71  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

And  whispered  in  his  ear;  Melot  had  seen 
Lord  Tristan  when  he  entered;  the  King  turned; 
Melot  and  he  went  stealthily  away; 
Melot  turned  back  and  watched  at  the  gate; 
But  now  is  the  King  gone  to  summon  these 
That  shall  be  eyes  to  him  and  see  his  shame. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Tristan,  there  is  no  need  now  any  more 

To  make  a  hooded  secret  of  our  love; 

Soon  the  whole  world  shall  look  into  our  hearts 

Because  Mark  wills  it.    The  King's  will  be  done. 


TRISTAN. 

I  have  undone  the  glory  of  your  crown: 

Men  shall  speak  evil  of  you  for  my  sake: 

I  would  that  Mark  had  stabbed  me  in.  my  sleep ! 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Now  I  am  glad,  utterly  glad  at  last, 
This  first  time  wholly  since  the  day  of  days 
We  drank  down  love  together.    I  have  my  will, 
I  have  always  willed  that  he  should  take  us  thus. 

[She  takes  Tristan's  hand. 
Is  he  not  long  in  coming?    Go,  Brangaene, 
Open  the  door  for  the  King's  coming;  bring 
My  lord  the  King  and  greet  him  from  his  wife. 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

[KING  MARK  enters,  closely  followed  by  MELOT; 
behind  them  the  lords  of  the  court,  in  hunting 
dress.  KING  MARK  pauses  and  then  comes 
slowly  forward. 

KING    MARK,  to    ISEULT. 

Queen,  I  have  come  to  take  you  to  your  throne. 

My  kingdom  cannot  spare  you;  you  are  wise, 

Wiser  than  women;  I  have  need  of  you. 

There  has  been  also  some  particular  love 

By  which,  in  the  past,  I  have  been  bound  to  you: 

That  will  I  lay  aside,  needing  it  not. 

These  lords  bear  witness  you  are  my  true  Queen; 

You  have  been  dear  to  me,  being  my  wife, 

And  I  have  something  that  I  will  not  say; 

Only,  I  do  you  honour  as  my  Queen. 

[KING  MARK  turns  slowly  to  TRISTAN. 
But  you,  blood  of  my  blood,  sword  of  my  sword, 
I  have  no  words  to  be  avenged  on  you. 
I  shall  wipe  Cornwall  clean  of  such  a  shame. 
This,  my  good  lords,  is  Tristan,  my  sister's  son, 
My  son,  if  he  had  willed  to  be  my  son;  , 

I  would  have  given  him  up  my  kingdom:  he,        v 
For  honour's  sake  and  for  your  sake,  my  lords, 
Would  none  of  it:  he  would  not  take  my  crown. 
O  baser,  infinite  ingratitude, 

[e  would  not  take  my  kingdom;   no,  he  would 
That  I  should  wed  him  from  inheritance. 
[e  brought  me  this  —  this  Queen  to  be  my  wife, 
"hat  he  might  take  a  woman  from  my  bed. 

Tristan,  there  are  many  souls  in  hell 
That  have  not  dragged  so  base  a  sin  as  this 
Out  of  the  sight  and  judgment-place  of  God. 
f  73  1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  who  has  drawn  back,  with  bowed  head. 
King !     Master ! 

KING    MARK. 

He  is  speechless. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Let  me  speak! 

Only,  my  lord,  bid  these  begone  from  us: 

We  have  no  need  of  any  witness  now. 

[KING  MARK  motions  to  the  LORDS,  who  go  out. 

MELOT,  as  he  goes. 

I  have  cracked  the  nut;  they  will  scramble  for  the 
pieces. 

[He  goes  out. 

KING    MARK. 

Iseult,  is  there,  then,  anything  to  say? 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

My  lord,  you  see  that  Tristan  cannot  speak, 
You  see  that  Tristan  is  too  honourable 
To  speak  the  truth.    I  am  a  woman,  sir, 
And  women  have  no  honour  mixed  in  the  blood 
That  sways  to  a  man  for  loving.    You  and  I 
Were  set  into  one  bed  because  two  lands 
Had  torn  too  long  at  one  another's  throats: 
I  brought  you  Ireland,  and  you  gave  me  Cornwall. 
f   74  1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

What  did  you  give  me  in  a  little  earth 
That  weighs  no  more  than  mine?    I  am  alive 
Wherever  there  is  the  earth  under  me. 
There  is  a  thing  not  meshed  into  your  crown, 
There  is  a  thing,  my  lord,  most  necessary 
To  every  soul  that  comes  into  the  world: 
I  have  not  stolen  it,  Tristan  gave  it  me. 
He  did  not  rob  you:  he  had  it  of  himself, 
You  cannot  punish  us  because  we  loved. 


KING    MARK. 

I  loved  you;  you  have  wronged  me  in  my  love. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

This  love  is  innocent  as  life  or  death. 

The  open  unastonished  eyes  of  day 

Look  on  it  and  are  not  ashamed.    There  is 

No  other  thing  necessary  in  the  world. 

But  you  have  killed  it,  and  for  your  own  sake 

Dragged  your  own  honour  in  the  dust.    Now,  now, 

What  will  you  do  for  love's  sake? 

KING  MARK,  turning  from  her. 

Tristan  first. 

Stand  up  before  me,  Tristan.    Answer  me: 
Will  your  tongue  speak  this  woman's  evil  words? 
No,  you  are  silent;  there  is  still  a  little, 
A  little  honour  left.    You  turn  from  her: 
Your  forehead  is  a  penitent  for  shame. 
[  75  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN. 

I  turn  to  you,  my  King,  but  not  from  her; 

For  I  have  wronged  you.    If  I  have  brought  wrong 

Upon  the  Queen  of  Cornwall,  not  my  life 

Shall  ransom  my  misdeed;  for  what  besides 

Now  lies  between  us,  there  is  nothing  left 

For  me  to  do,  nothing  to  undo;  all 

Is  over,  and  the  end  of  things  has  come.  , 

If  there  is  any  honour  left  in  me, 

It  may  be  honour  shall  yet  make  me  whole. 


KING    MARK. 

Tristan,  give  me  your  sword. 

[TRISTAN  gives  him  his  sword,  which  he  breaks 
across  his  knee  and  throws  on  the  ground. 

Your  sword  I  break, 

Only  I  leave  you,  not  for  pity,  life. 

It  may  be  you  will  yet  redeem  your  honour; 

But  here,  no  more;  you  are  as  one  now  dead, 

Cast  out  of  the  clean  honest  midst  of  us. 

I  banish  you  from  Cornwall. 

[ISEULT  OF  IRELAND  springs  forward  and 
draws  out  a  naked  dagger,  which  she  offers  to 

TRISTAN. 


ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

No,  not  that! 
Kill  Mark! 

[   76   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  putting  by  her  hand  gently. 

I  have  been  conquered,  and  all's  vain,  Iseult. 
If  you  have  loved  me,  be  a  little  sorry. 
And  you,  my  King,  forgive  me. 

[He  goes  out  slowly  and  with  bent  head. 


KING    MARK. 

Iseult,  come! 

[He  holds  out  his  hand  to  her  as  the  curtain  falls. 


[  77  } 


ACT  IV. 


ACT  IV. 

The  scene  represents  a  room  in  the  castle  in  Brittany; 
at  the  back  is  a  window  overlooking  the  sea.  On  the 
left  TRISTAN  lies  in  bed,  asleep.  By  the  side  of  the 
bed  is  a  table,  on  which  stands  a  flagon  of  wine  and  a 
cup.  There  is  a  door  on  the  right. 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY  is  watching  beside  TRISTAN. 

ELAINE  stands  at  the  foot  of  the  bed. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

LOOK  out  and  see  if  you  can  see  the  ship. 

ELAINE. 

Madam,  there  is  not  a  sail  upon  the  sea. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Is  the  wind  rising? 

ELAINE. 

The  wind  is  striking 

The  waves  like  a  great  hammer  on  the  walls, 
f  81   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  bending  over  TRISTAN 
and  then  moving  away. 

He  is  asleep.    Call  the  physician  in. 

[ELAINE  goes  to  the  door  and  beckons. 
[The  physician  comes  in. 
Can  my  lord  live?    Speak  low.    He  is  asleep. 


PHYSICIAN. 

Madam,  must  I  speak  comfortable  words 
Or  speak  the  truth? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

The  truth. 

PHYSICIAN. 

All  things  are  possible 

To  our  divine  and  undivulged  art: 

It  may  be  he  will  live. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

It  may  be?    Speak 

More  comfortable  words,  and  yet  speak  truth. 


PHYSICIAN. 

All  things  being  possible  in  medicine, 

And  all  things  known  that  may  destroy  or  heal 

Being  known  to  this  great  doctor  of  Salerno 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

We  look  for  in  the  ship  that  Tristan  sent, 
It  may  be  that  this  lord  of  secret  things 
Has  found  some  magic  herb  of  Italy 
We  know  not  of,  north  of  the  western  waters. 
If  he  have  found  some  curable  accident 
Of  nature,  and  how  poison  can  lick  up 
Poison,  my  lord  may  still  be  saved;  and  yet, 
If  he  should  live  — 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

If  he  should  live? 

PHYSICIAN. 

The  wonder 

Will  outpace  nature,  for  so  fierce  a  wound, 

So  deadly  venomed,  I  have  never  seen. 

The  knife  that  pierced  him  was  a  savage  knife, 

Dipped  in  some  foul,  unnatural  broth  of  death, 

Poisoning  the  sources,  and  his  blood  is  turned 

Quite  out  of  the  honest  current  of  the  blood. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

It  was  the  poisoned  knife  of  Meriadoc.     * 
The  knife  was  not  so  mortal  as  it  was 
When  Tristan  struck  him  back. 


PHYSICIAN. 

He  struck  the  heart; 

The  traitor's  hand  was  not  so  sure;  the  wound 
[  83  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Had  healed  by  now  but  for  the  poison  in  it. 
Whence  had  this  man  so  fierce  a  drug?    The  like 
Is  only  brewed  by  witches  over  sea. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

A  witch,  yes,  a  most  deadly  Irish  witch. 

PHYSICIAN. 

This  poison  has  been  bought  at  a  great  price. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

A  great  price  paid  in  hell  and  hoarded  up 
To  be  my  wedding  gift.    Must  Tristan  die? 

PHYSICIAN. 

'T  is  a  strange  thing  he  has  lived  so  many  days, 
Outlived  the  limit.    Something  holds  him  still, 
I  know  not  what,  to  life.    Does  my  lord  desire 
The  questionable  gift  of  life  so  much? 
Men  dying  have  lived  on  by  willing  it. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  did  not  know  that  he  loved  life  so  much. 
He  has  been  moody,  he  has  only  cared 
For  fighting  in  the  field;  I  have  never  seen 
A  joyous  ardour  in  him  since  he  came 
[   84  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Back  to  our  coasts,  not  even  when  he  drove 
The  enemies  from  our  gates  and  gave  my  father 
His  dukedom  back. 


PHYSICIAN. 

Did  he  not  take  the  hand 

Of  the  duke's  noble  daughter  for  a  gift 

And  guerdon?    He  has  reason  to  love  life. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Seek  for  it  elsewhere. 


PHYSICIAN. 

It  may  be  in  the  ship. 

Does  he  not  question  eagerly  of  the  ship 

We  wait  for  from  Salerno? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Eagerly. 

PHYSICIAN. 

Hope  bids  him  live.    He  lives  until  he  sees 

The  ship,  and  then  —  God  send  his  grace  therewith ! 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  thank  you.    You  have  put  into  my  heart 

A  little  seed  of  hope,  and  it  will  grow. 

Go  quietly.    He  still  sleeps.    He  must  not  wake. 

[The  PHYSICIAN  goes  out. 
I  85  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ELAINE. 

0  lady,  is  there  any  hope? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

All  hope, 

This  learned  man  has  told  me,  all  hope  now 
Is  in  the  ship.    My  lord  will  surely  live 
Until  the  ship  is  here. 

ELAINE. 
And  then? 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Why,  then, 
He  is  saved. 

ELAINE. 

Who  is  this  lady  that  is  coming 
To  save  him? 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Lady? 

ELAINE. 

Might  this  lady  be 

Some  kinswoman  or  cousin  of  my  lady? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Why  who  then? 

ELAINE. 

She  who  is  coming  in  the  ship. 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

There  is  no  woman  coming  in  the  ship. 
The  ship  is  coming  from  Salerno  with 
The  greatest  leech  in  Italy. 


ELAINE. 

But  no, 

How  can  that  be? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Why  not? 

ELAINE. 

Because  the  ship 
Set  sail  for  Cornwall. 


ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  starting. 
Cornwall? 

ELAINE. 

Was  it  not? 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  checking  herself. 
Ah  yes,  to  Cornwall.    How  did  you  know,  my  child? 


ELAINE. 

I  listened  — 

[  87  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 


Yes. 


ELAINE. 


I  heard,  although  my  lord 
Spoke  low.    He  bade  take  ship  — 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

To  Cornwall? 

ELAINE. 

Yes, 

With  speed,  and  bring  back  speedily  — 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Yes,  bring  — 

ELAINE. 

The  name  was  yours,  madam,  the  Lady  Iseult! 

TRISTAN,  in  his  sleep,  loudly. 
Iseult! 

ELAINE. 

My  lord  is  calling  to  you. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Not  to  me. 

He  is  talking  in  his  sleep. 
(Moving  towards  the  bed.)    Was  it  to  me, 
[  88  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Tristan,  or  the  one  woman  in  the  world? 
(To  ELAINE.)    I  will  watch  beside  him.    Let  me  be 
alone. 

[ELAINE  goes  out,  and  ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY 

walks  to  and  fro  in  agitation. 
Iseult  is  coming  in  the  ship :  he  lives 
Until  the  ship  is  here.    She  will  come  in 
And  take  my  husband,  who  was  never  hers, 
Out  of  my  arms.    I  have  not  stolen  her  name; 
It  is  my  own  poor  name.    I  have  not  stolen 
Her  love  from  this  proud  queen:  it  still  is  hers, 
He  is  all  hers,  but  he  is  also  mine. 
Why  should  she  come,  being  so  rich,  to  me 
Who  am  so  poor?    Must  beggars  give  back  alms? 
This  man  is  mine,  I  hold  him:  better  dead 
And  mine,  than  hers  and  living.    What  have  I  said? 
It  is  this  deadly  woman  whom  I  hate 
That  comes  to  bring  him  death.    He  shall  not  die. 
Shall  she  suck  out  her  poison  in  his  wound? 
She  would  not  save  him.    Could  I  give  him  back 
Into  her  hands  if  she  would  heal  him?    O 
The  bitterness  of  love,  the  hate  of  love, 
So  kind  in  the  beginning  and  so  sharp 
A  sickle  when  the  seed  has  come  to  ear! 
What  am  I  but  a  woman,  who  loves  only 
The  man  whom  she  has  held  between  her  arms? 
Shall  I  begin  to  hate  him  for  her  sake, 
Because  he  loved  no  other  than  this  fair, 
This  deadly  royal  woman  of  my  name, 
The  other  Iseult?    Me  he  never  loved. 
Would  that  the  sea  drank  her,  and  that  her  ship 
Were  gulped  down  living  by  a  wide-mouthed  wave! 
She  shall  not  take  him  from  me  while  he  lives. 

f   89   1 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  in  sleep. 
Iseult! 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

He  is  calling  on  her  in  his  sleep. 

TRISTAN,  half  awakening. 

Say  nothing  more.  If  I  am  sick  to  death, 
There  is  one  ending;  but  no  tears,  Iseult. 
Open  the  window. 


ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  going  to  the  window 

and  opening  it. 
So? 

TRISTAN. 

Open  it  wide. 

Do  you  not  see  a  sail? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

There  is  no  sail. 

The  wind  is  cold,  and  there  is  a  grey  rain. 

Shall  I  not  close  the  window? 


TRISTAN,  rising  in  his  bed. 

Listen!    A  cry. 

It  is  the  sea.    Tell  me,  is  it  the  sea? 
[  90  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

There  is  another  crying,  but  it  is  here, 
Here  in  my  wrists  and  forehead;  but  this  voice 
Is  louder  than  the  little  voice  of  the  blood. 
Iseult,  listen,  and  tell  me  if  you  hear. 


ISEULT    OP    BRITTANY. 

I  hear  the  wind  rushing  and  the  waves  beat. 


TRISTAN. 

Oh  no,  oh  no, 

It  is  the  crying  of  an  incurable  wound, 
It  turns  on  a  sick  bed  and  cannot  sleep, 
It  cries  to  me,  and  I  am  sick,  I  am  sick. 

[He  falls  back  on  his  bed. 


ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  coming  up  to  the  bed. 

You  must  lie  quieter  than  a  sea-swallow 
Upon  a  rocking  wave.    You  know  our  birds 
(  Find  homes  in  the  loud  middle  of  the  storm 
When  we  are  frightened.    Cannot  you,  my  lord, 
Look  for  some  peace  and  solace  in  this  pain? 


TRISTAN. 

No,  no,  I  can  but  cry  as  the  sea  cries. 

I  am  as  angry  with  my  pain,  as  weak 

And  angry  as  the  sea  that  hates  the  wind. 

But  you  are  gentle  as  a  feathered  thing 

That  the  wind  carries;  and  you  do  not  fear  the  sea? 

You  do  not  fear  me,  Iseult? 

[   91   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

My  dear  lord, 

There  is  some  cruel  stranger  in  your  heart 
I  indeed  fear;  but  you  are  always  gentle, 
And  when  you  look  at  me  and  speak  my  name 
You  say  my  name  as  if  indeed  you  loved  me. 


TRISTAN. 

I  made  a  song  once,  all  men  sing  it  now, 
The  song  of  Iseult,  Tristan's  life  and  death, 
And  women  weep  to  hear  it,  and  men  too. 
1  made  it  with  the  sorrow  of  the  world 
And  with  the  sorrow  in  the  hearts  of  men. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Your  eyes  are  full  of  tears  to  think  of  it. 

Is  it  your  pain?    I  would  not,  though  the  name 

Be  mine,  that  it  should  hurt  you. 


TRISTAN. 

Love  made  the  name. 
It  is  a  heart-shaped  talisman  and  holds 
The  very  heart  of  love.    I  say  it  over 
Like  something  I  remember  in  my  sleep, 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  heard  you  say  it  in  your  sleep  to-day. 
[  92  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 


TRISTAN. 


Look,  that  was  a  white  wing;  it  dipped  in  the  wind 
A  white  bird:  a  good  messenger.    Look  out, 
Iseult,  and  tell  me  if  you  see  a  sail. 


ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  going  to  the  window. 
I  see  the  grey  sea  and  the  grey  sky.    Nothing. 

TRISTAN. 

I  am  sick,  Iseult;  but  if  this  ship  would  come, 
It  would  bring  life.    He  knows  the  medicine 
That  heals  me  even  of  death:  he  brings  me  life. 

\ 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Has  this  physician  from  Salerno,  then, 
So  infinite  a  skill? 

TRISTAN. 
Infinite  skill! 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Is  he  a  man  of  books  or  does  he  find 
Secret  in  herbs  and  healing  in  the  earth? 

TRISTAN. 
All  things  are  possible  to  love:  he  loves,       J 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

He  comes  himself,  if  you  but  send  for  him? 

TRISTAN. 

I  do  not  know  if  he  will  come  himself; 
But  if  he  come,  I  know  that  I  shall  live. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Tristan,  if  I  had  skill  to  bring  you  life, 
As  I  have  will  to  do  it  and  love  too, 
You  should  not  need  this  coming;  but  alas, 
I  have  but  will  and  love  and  nothing  else. 
I  cannot  heal  you;  but  if  the  Mother  of  God 
Be  yet  in  heaven  the  mother  of  us  men, 
You  shall  be  healed. 

TRISTAN. 
Have  you  been  praying,  Iseult? 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  have  not  ceased  to  pray. 


TRISTAN. 

Shall  God  forgive? 

I  think  that  God  did  never  yet  forgive. 
[  94  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Lie  quiet  in  your  bed  and  do  not  think 
About  these  things  that  we  shall  never  know. 
There  have  been  prayers  that  saved  from  death. 


TRISTAN. 
Not  so. 

I  shall  lay  by  my  glory  with  my  soul, 
And  when  my  body,  that  feasted  and  lay  warm, 
Is  sewn  into  a  clout,  then  shall  my  hall 
Be  made  with  a  spade,  and  my  bower  builded  soon : 
Worms  shall  come  in  to  be  my  guests  in  the  dark. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Why  do  you  murmur  over  these  old  words 
That  the  priests  say  in  Latin? 


TRISTAN. 

There  shall  be, 

In  the  grave,  no  forgetting. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

You  shall  live! 

TRISTAN,  starting  up. 

Why  do  you  wake  me?    There  is  a  sail? 
[   95   1 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 


No  sail! 


TRISTAN,  wildly. 


Do  you  not  see  I  am  dying  hour  by  hour, 
And  yet  you  will  not  come! 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Hush,  you  speak  wildly. 


TRISTAN. 

Iseult! 

i 

ISEULT   OF   BRITTANY. 

See,  I  am  here. 

TRISTAN. 

No,  no,  0  God! 

This  agony  that  eats  into  my  side, 

This  hurrying  possessing  of  my  blood, 

This  rat  that  gnaws  me,  this  insatiable 

And  intimate  infinity  of  pain 

Will  not  delay:  the  ship,  the  ship  delays! 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Lie  quietly,  my  lord;  think  not  of  this. 
[  96  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 


TRISTAN. 


Is  the  sail  black  or  white?    If  it  be  black, 

It  is  a  shroud  the  colour  of  my  hope. 

The  sail  is  white,  say  that  the  sail  is  white! 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

What  should  the  sail  betoken? 

TRISTAN. 

Why,  my  end. 

It  is  the  white  wing  of  the  bird  in  the  sky 

I  saw  out  there,  flying  against  the  wind. 

Why  do  you  ask  me  what  the  white  sail  means? 

If  it  be  white  — 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY, 

If  it  be  white? 


TRISTAN,  in  a  low  voice,  sinking  back. 
I  am  saved. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY,  aside. 

If  she  is  coming,  it  is  the  white  sail; 
But  if  she  is  not  coming,  the  black  sail. 
(To  TRISTAN.)    What  if  it  be  the  black  sail? 
[   97   ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  faintly. 
The  black  sail, 
I  have  forgotten  what  it  means. 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  moving  towards  the  window. 

Now,  now, 

I  am  to  do  with  this  man  what  I  will 

For  the  first  time.    I  hold  him  in  both  hands 

Now.    Am  I  still  Iseult  of  the  White  Hands? 

I  have  to  give  her  signal  to  him,  and  for  her 

Tell  him  that  she  is  coming.    If  she  comes, 

Who  knows?    It  may  be  that  the  sail  is  black. 

How  can  I  see  that  sail  and  see  it  white? 

TRISTAN,  feebly. 

There  is  no  sail? 

I 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

There  is  no  sail.    The  sea 

Is  empty,  but  the  wind  rises  on  it. 

TRISTAN,  half  unconscious. 

When  we  are  dead  — 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  running  to  the  bedside. 
My  lord! 

TRISTAN. 

No,  they  shall  sing 

No  evil  songs  of  us  when  we  are  dead; 
They  shall  sing  songs  of  us. 
[  98  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

O! 

TRISTAN. 

Happy  lovers, 

Because  we  drank  one  love  out  of  one  cup, 

And  death  is  not  so  sure. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

O!    O! 

TRISTAN. 

Iseult, 

(Looking  into  vacancy.)    I  have  been  faithful,  Iseult. 


ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  shrinking  away. 

Now  he  sees 

The  other  woman,  and  he  cries  to  her. 


TRISTAN. 
Give  me  the  cup. 

[She  takes  up  the  cup  from  beside  his  bed  and 
pours  wine  into  it. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Here,  Tristan!    Here  is  wine. 
See,  I  will  set  my  lips  to  it  — 

[   99  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

TRISTAN,  snatching  it  from  her. 
No,  no, 
You  must  not  drink  it.    What  is  in  the  cup? 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Wine  for  your  thirst,  Tristan. 


TRISTAN. 

This  is  no  wine. 

You  do  not  know  what  this  is.    Set  it  down. 

[She  sets  it  down  by  the  bedside. 
[He  again  looks  into  vacancy. 
Have  you  forgotten,  Iseult,  and  so  soon? 
It  was  not  wine:  I  will  not  drink  it  twice, 
I  would  not  forget  twice.    Was  it  the  cup 
That  put  this  faithful  unforgetting  fire 
Into  my  marrow? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

No,  it  was  the  knife: 

Do  you  not  know?  the  knife  of  Meriadoc. 


TRISTAN. 

The  blood  of  Morolt  cries  out  of  the  knife, 
Yet  this  is  not  his  vengeance:  it  is  hers. 
It  was  for  her  he  let  her  mother's  poison 
Into  my  side.    You  loved  her,  Meriadoc. 
Have  you  loved  better  than  I  have?    Iseult, 

I  100  ] 


TRISTAN  A  N  D  1  S  E.U  LiT- 

Where  are  you  gone?    You  were  here  by  my  bed, 
You  would  have  healed  me:    someone  thrust  you 

back. 

What  are  these  white  hands  that  I  see,  there,  there, 
Thrusting  you  back  until  you  fade  away? 
I  cannot  see  you  any  longer.    Who 
Is  this  pale  woman  with  the  angry  eyes? 
(Looking  at  ISEULT.)    You  are  beautiful  and  yet  I 

do  not  know  you. 

[ISEULT  covers  her  face  with  her  hands. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  am  not  angry,  but  you  kill  my  heart. 

Do  you  not  know  me,  Tristan?    Look  at  me. 


TRISTAN. 

I  pray  you,  do  not  weep;  but  if  you  are 
As  pitiful  as  your  weeping  shows  you,  turn 
And  tell  me  if  there  is  a  sail  upon  the  sea. 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  going  back  to  the  window. 
Tristan,  there  is  a  sail! 


TRISTAN. 

O  do  not  mock  me. 
Is  there  indeed  a  sail? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Yes,  yes,  a  sail. 

The  ship  is  close  under  the  castle  walls. 

[  101  ] 


A'ND  ISEULT 


It  comes  around  the  corner  of  the  rocks. 
It  is  close  now,  quite  close. 

TRISTAN,  starting  up. 

Did  I  not  know 

That  I  had  but  to  call  and  she  would  come? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

He  calls  to  her:  he  sees  her  in  the  ship. 

TRISTAN. 

I  have  been  lying  in  my  grave,  I  think, 
These  years,  and  she  is  coming  to  waken  me. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

These  years,  these  years! 


TRISTAN. 

All  will  be  well. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Already 

He  does  not  know  me  with  his  eyes:  his  eyes 
See  her  already,  he  smiles  to  welcome  her. 
There  js  a  great  joy  in  his  eyes:  it  kills 
My  heart.    She  shall  not  take  him  from  my  heart. 
[   102  ] 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 


TRISTAN. 


The  sail!  the  sail!    Look,  look,  can  you  not  see 
The  colour  of  the  sail? 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 


What  shall  I  say? 

Tears  in  my  eyes  blind  me.    I  cannot  see 

What  colour  the  sail  is. 


TRISTAN. 

The  sail  is  white! 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

The  wind  is  tossing  it,  and  the  sea  leaps 
After  the  ship.    She  will  be  in  the  ship. 

0  wind  and  sea,  why  were  you  merciful? 

She  will  be  here.    He  sees  her.    What  shall  I  say? 

1  will  not  be  her  messenger  to  him. 


TRISTAN. 
Look  straight. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

I  see,  I  see. 

TRISTAN. 

Is  the  sail  white? 

f    103   1 


TRISTAN  AND  ISEULT 

ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  slowly  turning  her  eyes 

On    TRISTAN. 

The  sail  is  black. 

TRISTAN,  after  a  pause,  slowly,  in  a  faint  voice, 
looking  straight  in  front  of  him  with  ecstatic  eyes. 

God  bless  you,  Iseult;  and  good-night. 

[He  falls  back  dead. 


ISEULT  OF  BRITTANY,  rushing  forward  and  lean- 
ing over  him. 
Tristan, 

It  is  a  white  sail.    She  is  coming,  Tristan. 
Lift  up  your  head,  listen:  Iseult  is  here! 

« [She  tries  to  raise  his  head. 

0  —  h!  what  have  I  done?    No,  no, 

Wake,  wake,  Tristan,  and  let  me  die  for  you! 

[She  flings  herself  on  the  bed,  then  rises  and 
cries. 

Ygraine!    Elaine!    Imogen!    He  is  dead. 

[The  women  rush  in,  followed  by  the  PHYSI- 
CIAN. 

My  lord  is  dead.    I  killed  him,  I  myself. 

Come  closer.    See,  he  is  quite  dead,  quite  dead. 

You  thought  I  loved  him;  but  I  killed  him.    Yet 

1  only  spoke  a  word. 

[She  bursts  into  hysterical  weeping. 
[Her  women  support  her. 


YGRAINE. 

Lead  her  away. 

This  sorrow  is  too  heavy  for  her. 
[   104   ] 


TRISTAN  AND   ISEULT 

ISETJLT    OF    BRITTANY,  to  the  PHYSICIAN. 

Sir, 

You  must  awaken  him:  he  is  only  sleeping.    , 
You  told  me  he  would  live  till  the  ship  came. 
The  ship  is  come.    Why  do  you  look  at  him 
As  if  there  were  now  nothing  more  to  do? 
Can  you  not  make  him  lift  one  of  these  lids 
That  cover  his  eyes  down  from  seeing  her? 
For  he  must  see  her.    She  is  at  the  gate. 
Wake  him,  wake  him,  and  I  will  go  away. 

PHYSICIAN. 
Madam,  I  cannot  wake  him. 


ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

But  I  will. 

[She  leans  over  the  bed. 
Will  you  not  waken,  and  look  on  me  once, 
Tristan,  before  she  comes? 

ELAINE. 
Come,  lady. 

IMOGEN. 

Come. 

You  will  go  wild  with  sorrow.    Come  with  us. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY,    listens  fearfully,    hearing 
sounds  without,  then  sits  down  by  the  bedside  and 
takes  hold  of  TRISTAN'S  hand. 
(   105   ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

Tristan,  she  is  coming :  do  not  let  me  go ! 

[She  stares  fearfully  at  the  door,  which  is  thrown 
open,  and  ISEULT  OF  IRELAND  appears  on 
the  threshold. 

[BRANGAENE  follows  her. 
[The  women  stand  about  the  bed  on  which  TRIS- 
TAN'S body  lies,  with  heads  bent  and  drooping 
hands. 

[ISEULT  OF  IRELAND  looks  through  them  to 
the  dead  body. 

ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  on  the  threshold,  to  BRAN- 
GAENE. 

Tristan  is  dead,  and  there  is  nothing  left 
In  all  the  world.    I  have  not  come  too  late. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Too  late,  too  late!    I  told  him  that  the  sail 

Was  black.    I  killed  him.    It  was  I  who  killed  him. 

ISEULT    OF    IRELAND. 

Comfort  yourself,  Iseult  of  Brittany, 
And  hide  your  head  and  weep,  if  you  will  weep, 
Because  it  had  to  be,  and  leave  me  here. 
You  have  done  nothing  in  this  mighty  death. 

ISEULT    OF    BRITTANY. 

Where  shall  I  go?  for  I  have  killed  my  lord. 

[She  rises  and  with  bowed  head  moves  slowly 
away  between  her  women,  who  lead  her  out  of 
the  door. 

(   106  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

ISEULT  OF  IRELAND,  going  up  to  the  bed. 

I  kiss  you  for  the  last  time  on  the  mouth, 
Tristan. 

[She  bends  over  and  kisses  him,  and  then  speaks 

over  his  body. 

He  was  the  glory  of  the  world; 
All  the  world's  dust,  for  Tristan  can  be  dead. 
This  dust  was  once  a  fire  and  burned  the  stars: 
Now  what  a  little  ashes  holds  the  fire 
That  was  blown  out  too  early.    There  is  nothing 
Left  in  the  world,  and  I  am  out  of  place. 
Could  you  not  wait  for  me  until  I  came, 
Tristan? 

[She  lies  down  beside  him  and  dies. 


BRANGAENE. 

Mistress!  my  life!    O  she  is  dead.    O  lady, 

Now  you  have  your  desire  and  are  at  rest. 

(To  the  ATTENDANTS.)    Come  nearer,  all  of  you,  lay 

them  royally 

And  side  by  side,  body  by  body.    Come. 
Lift  up  her  head,  that  his  may  not  outtop 
The  fairest  head  in  the  world.    You  shall  lie  so. 
Have  you  no  rich  cloths  to  lay  over  them? 
Bring  something  to  make  up  a  royal  bed. 

[The  ATTENDANTS  bring  forward  rich  cloths 
and  lay  over  them. 

[BRANGAENE  arranges  them  with  care. 
[An  ATTENDANT  rushes  in. 
[   107  ] 


TRISTAN   AND   ISEULT 

ATTENDANT. 

The  other  ship  is  here.    It  is  King  Mark 
With  all  his  lords. 

BRANGAENE. 

He  is  not  to  come  in 

Until  this  work  is  over.    Is  all  ready? 

[The  door  is  flung  open  and  KING   MARK 
rushes  in,  followed  by  his  LORDS. 

KING    MARK. 

Where  is  Iseult?    Is  Tristan  here? 
BRANGAENE,  going  towards  him  and  raising  her 

hand  to  impose  silence. 
No,  King, 
They  are  not  here.    Look  where  they  were. 

[The  ATTENDANTS  draw  aside,  disclosing  the 
two  bodies. 

[KING  MARK  comes  forward. 


KING    MARK. 

Is  death 

Treacherous?    Has  he  gone  faster  than  I  could? 

Could  I  not  come  upon  them  in  one  bed 

But  death  must  find  them  first?    I  am  too  late. 

There  is  no  room  for  my  revenge. 

BRANGAENE,  coming  forward. 
O  King, 

There  is  no  room  here  for  revenge.    These  two 
Drank  from  one  cup,  not  knowing,  the  long  sorrow 
Now  ended  in  this  death. 

[   108  ] 


TRISTAN   AND    ISEULT 

KING    MARK. 

The  cup  of  love? 

BRANGAENE. 

It  was  the  cup  of  love:  the  Queen  of  Ireland 
Prepared  a  cup  of  love  to  bind  your  heart 
To  hers  who  now  lies  dead:  she  on  the  ship 
Drank  ignorantly  with  him  who  now  lies  dead 
The  cup  of  love  you  should  have  drunk  with  her. 
There  had  been  love  between  you;  but  these  have 

loved 
Not  well  or  ill,  but  of  necessity. 

KING    MARK. 

Their  love  has  wrought  this  evil  of  itself, 
If  it  be  evil  to  have  died  together. 
Had  I  but  known!    Tristan,  had  I  but  knownf^ 
Had  my  son  Tristan  but  had  faith  in  me 
And  told  me  all  the  truth,  then  had  I  given 
Iseult,  whom  I  have  loved,  to  be  his  wife. 
But  now  has  all  this  woe  come  to  an  end 
In  sorrow,  and  because  we  were  all  blind. 
The  woman  whom  I  loved,  and  my  one  friend, 
Lie  here,  and  I  am  living  still.    So  be  it. 
They  shall  be  buried  like  a  king  and  queen 
Among  the  kings  my  fathers.    Bear  these  two 
Back  to  Tintagel.    I  will  follow  them. 

THE  END. 


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